Maxie L. Moore Jr. died peacefully in his sleep in the early morning hours of May 11, 2020 after a long illness. He was 73 years old. He is survived by his son Philip, daughter-in-law Mackenzie and sisters Cynthia and Ruth Ann as well as many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his daughter Cassandra, his sister Claudia and his parents Margaret and Maxie L. Moore Sr.

Maxie was born in Houston, Texas and attended the United States Navy Hospital Corps School and Field Medical Service School and served as a combat medic in Vietnam for the First Marine Air Wing. He flew more than 1,000 combat missions rescuing downed pilots and wounded soldiers on the battlefields. He felt that he could make a difference in the war by getting some of the wounded soldiers out of the combat zone alive. After he evacuated the wounded, he always came back for the dead because in the Marines, you never leave the dead on a battlefield. Despite being shot at, shot up and shot down, he survived the war. He was awarded a Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medals and Vietnam Campaign and Service Medals for his bravery.
After he was discharged from the Navy, he worked as a paramedic and returned to school to become a Registered Nurse. After graduating, he worked as a critical care nurse at Doctor’s Medical Center in Modesto, California and as a medical-surgical nurse at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

He was a talented home cook and lover of wine, which fueled many passionate late-night conversations. He was also a political junky whose democratic socialist beliefs were engrained by a deep understanding of the world’s problems and constant reading of a variety of newspapers. Above all, he cared about his son and daughter.

In the words of Hunter S. Thompson, another southern gentlemen, Maxie believed, “life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!”

A celebration of life is tentatively scheduled on his birthday, Saturday, August 15, 2020 at Hendersonville Memorial Gardens in Hendersonville TN. The family will receive visitors at 10AM and the service will begin at 11AM. His ashes will be buried next to his daughter Cassandra in Hendersonville Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made in his name to Habitat for Humanity of Sumner County TN.

2 Comments to Maxie L Moore

Thought I would never see you again but never say never.
Don and I were so happy to see you in Tn.
We enjoyed our trip to the Jack Daniels Distillery.
Going out to eat and coming by your home.
Happy we took some pictures of the 3 of us.
We had a fun time reminiscing the old times and
growing up in Weslaco. So much to talk about!
When you and Don met, both of you shared a kindred spirit.
In Vietnam you left the HMM 260 helicopter squadron,
Don was assigned after he came back from Vietnam to the same unit. Then based at the MCAS New River N.C.
Rest In Peace brother ,
Semper Fi, from Don
Love you Maxie
Don and Lupita Rhoden